[TN-Bird] Re: Fw:West Nile Impacts on Chickadees and other Songbirds

Hi Folks,

That email from Troy makes me wonder, because either I missed it, or
a very important point was missing...

Was the decline in Black-capped Chickadee (BCCH) population related
to 1) the virus, 2) the methods that paranoid officials and others
are using to control it, or 3) something completely different.

I have great respect for Troy, and thank him for sending on
information regularly, including this post.  It is good for us to
keep informed.  I'm pretty cynical, as most of you would know from
many of my posts, and that is part of my comments here.

I was taught in some of my better science classes that logic dictates
we DO NOT assume to factors are in a direct cause-and-effect
relationship unless we can find evidence supporting it. 

While I don't think it's impossible that the virus is wiping out the
BCCH, there is nothing in that post that makes me believe that anyone
has made a scientific link.  On the other hand, there have been many
scientific links between loss of birds and certain "protective
measures" (chemicals, destruction of wetlands, decrease in insect
populations).  Due to the fear of this disease (which probably killed
a LOT fewer people than cigarettes or personal watercraft this year)
people around the US have been engaging in all of these activities.

My point?  Well, whining, I guess.  I hope all you smart TN-birders
out there are going to be a little less reactionary than a lot of
people I've seen who are doing everything they can to "protect
themselves" without thinking of the possible effects on wildlife -
and us.

Ok.  I'm breathing regularly again!  

Today we have a large number of Carolina Chickadees, a couple Tufted
Titmice, several American Goldfinches (but not nearly as many as 2
days ago) and a few Chipping, White-throated and Song Sparrows, as
well as one crow at the Tremont feeders, which were hung up for the
season on Monday.  Still waiting for the first Pine Siskins and BCCH
to show up in the valley.

Jeff, wanna tell us some more info on that Murrelet in KY?!?  I
really haven't the time to get on ANOTHER listserv...
charlie



=====
**************************************************
Charlie Muise, Senior Naturalist
Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont
Townsend, TN  lat 35 deg, 38'23"  long 83 deg, 41'22"

"Up, Sluggard, and waste not life; in the grave will be sleeping enough"
 - Ben Frankline, Poor Richard's Almanac

__________________________________________________
Do you Yahoo!?
HotJobs - Search new jobs daily now
http://hotjobs.yahoo.com/
=================NOTES TO SUBSCRIBER=====================

The TN-Bird Net requires you to sign your messages with
first and last name, city (town) and state abbreviation.
-----------------------------------------------------
To post to this mailing list, simply send email to:
tn-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
----------------------------------------------------- 
To unsubscribe, send email to:
tn-bird-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx 
with 'unsubscribe' in the Subject field.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Topographical Maps located at http://topozone.com/find.asp
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
     Visit the Tennessee Ornithological Society
          web site at http://www.tnbirds.org
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
    TN-Bird Net Owner: Wallace Coffey, Bristol, TN
        jwcoffey@xxxxxxxxxx      (423) 764-3958
=========================================================

Other related posts: